Count Alessandro Contini-Bonacossi (18 March 1878 – 22 October 1955) was an Italian politician, art collector, dealer, and philatelist. In 1939 he was made a Senator of the Kingdom of Italy by Victor Emmanuel III.
Early life Contini-Bonacossi was born in Ancona on 18 March 1878 to Camillo Contini and the Countess Elena Bonacossi Bermudez of Ferrara.
Political career In 1928, Contini-Bonacossi was made a Count by Victor Emmanuel III. In 1939 he became a Senator.
Nazi era Through Walter Hofer, Contini-Bonacossi sourced art for the Göring Collection.Lootedart.com Dealer Records : Count Alessandro Contini-Bonacossi (1878-1955)
Around 1942, Göring's art agent Sepp Angerer, and the local German consul Gerhard Wolf, went on a tour of Contini-Bonacossi's collection. Angerer supposedly told the count, "What a pity you're not a Jew!" and drawing a finger across his throat continued "If you were a Jew, we could do just that! And all the paintings would be ours!"
Contini-Bonacossi was investigated in 1946 by the Office of Strategic Services Art Looting Investigation Unit for his role in dealing in Nazi-looted art and placed on the Red Flag List of Names.
Philately Contini-Bonacossi was a noted philatelist. He won a Gold-Silver medal at the London International Stamp Exhibition 1960 for his display of Tuscany"The exhibition full list of awards and final report of international jury", The London Philatelist, Vol. LXIX, Aug-Sept. 1960, No. 813, p. 160. and a gold medal at WIPA 1965, also for Tuscany."WIPA 1965", H. R. Holmes, The London Philatelist, Vol. 74, Aug-Sept. 1965, No. 872-873, p. 164.
Death Contini-Bonacossi died in Florence on 22 October 1955.
References
External links http://www.yourwaytoflorence.com/db/musei/contini.htm